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Compilation from Northern leg of Vulcan 'Farewell To The Nation Tour'(Includes Scottish Highlands / Lake district);https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi_ZQslBH8oIncludes shots in cockpit at takeoff & video from bomb aimers window as it passes over many iconic locations.

I'd turned up for the 'Wales Air Show' this year at Swansea bay, after nagging the organisers mercilessly for months to secure VULCAN, I thought it was the least I could do. It's a good theatre for an air show as Swansea Bay is 4 miles long so no-one feels crammed in.

There was one thing I was interested in at the show, XH558, nothing else much mattered although I will confess to enjoying the fantastic display the Eurofighter Typhoon put on.

Whilst I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of XH558, I got talking to an elderly couple who were also there mainly to see VULCAN, the display happened, everyone was appreciative of the pilot's close passes & 'bonus' flypast. Immediately after the display had ended I started to speak with this couple again. The old lady was chuckling to herself, she told me how she wasn't really watching the plane, she was watching people's reaction to it, particularly the kids. She pointed to a young family stood 15 feet away, "See that young boy," she pointed at a lad of perhaps 6 or 7 years old, "I watched his face as the Vulcan came over first time and his mouth fell open, when the plane came back around and he went into that climb full throttle the boys jaw was nearly on the pavement. While we were watching her flying off I could see him tugging on his father's sleeve, saying 'Dad I was thinking perhaps I'll be an RAF man when I get older' "

I think I was about the same age when I first saw Vulcan at one of the Battle of Britain displays at RAF St Athan, it shows the inspirational effect XH558 still has and how much greater this must have been when VULCAN was new technology.

As good as some of the other high octane displays were during the day I didn't witness the same dreamy expression on peoples faces that had been there when XH558 sang for us.

I don't know if the Trust has ever made approaches & sought Royal Patronage?I'd have thought the right type of Patron, particularly one who may be prepared to be quite active, could open a lot of doors, smooth out a lot of obstacles & help bring in a lot of dosh.

Prince Harry seems the obvious choice with his service / veterans / charitable / aviation / historical aviation interests as well as his energy & enthusiasm.Prince William, perhaps a close 2nd.Prince Philip, well he's knocking on a bit and long term commitment might not be realistic.Prince Charles, well ....

Avro VULCAN XH558 enjoys enormous, possibly unprecedented, public support - as does the charitable Trust behind its return to flight.

Yet we are to lose this incredibly popular & treasured National resource from our skies forever. People seem prepared to simply accept this as a fait accompli. There doesn't seem to be anyone anywhere fighting to stop this happening.

Anyone who reads this is presumably a massive VULCAN fan, are you content so have seen the last of a VULCAN in flight?

This VULCAN has been termed The Spirit of Great Britain, now Britain is set to lose it's Spirit.

No-one really understands why XH558 is to be lost, there have not been any comprehensible statements put in the public domain other that some mumblings about there being " ... no upside ... " for them from the Technical Authority companies which I would take to mean " We're not making enough of a profit." The upside should just be having your company's name spoken in the same breath as VULCAN!

Marshall Aerospace & Defence Group appears to have been the prime mover in 'shutting down' XH558's flying future.

I understand from the Trust's posts that there is another company waiting in the wings ready to act as Technical Authority but they cannot work without the vital original A V Roe Technical documentation held by BAE - which BAE refuses to share. So not only is BAE refusing to help keep XH558 aloft, it's obstructing another accredited competent company from doing so.

This entire state of affairs is absolutely appalling!

I turned out to see VULCAN on the Farewell Tour Southern leg, I was on the Severn Bridge, (which the pilot eventually remembered he was supposed to visit), this enormous stretch of bridge was rammed solid with people wanting to witness VULCAN in flight, as was every venue across the UK during this weekend. So many people obviously love this plane, (is there any single person in the UK who could lay claim to such widespread adoration?), yet we are set to lose XH558 for no apparent good reason.

OK - money may be a central issue here, it's probably why the 'Technical Authority' companies want to distance themselves as things stand.Just think of all the public money that gets poured into lame / ridiculous causes every year which don't enjoy great, (or any), public support. Surely money could, (and should), be found to back a cause which enjoys HUGE public support?!

Yes, we can still go to visit a diminished XH558 in storage but how would you rather remember your hero? Speaking personally, I'd rather have watched seen Sugar Ray Robinson in his greatest ever fight against LaMotta than have met him when dementia had reduced him. In much the same way, this beautiful aeroplane was created to fly and to overawe so 99% of the VULCAN experience is in watching the grace in flight, feeling the vibration through your feet and, most of all, the noise - that incredible noise when the 4-throttle levers are wrenched open to free the howl!

The weekend before the 'Farewell Tour' a famous £20M racing Aston Martin of the 1950's was badly damaged in a smash at the Castle Combe racetrack. The owner, Adrian Beecroft, is someone who obviously appreciates that this car was created to race, not sit glumly in an auto museum somewhere. The same is true of XH558!

This year has seen the quote, (disputedly attributed to Dr Seuss), “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” It's a very good and applicable phrase but after the tears I just feel anger, I don't want to smile, this SHOULDN'T be over, there is NO NEED for this to end. Not quite yet at any rate!

So you've signed the e-petition, what now?

Well I think we need to look towards the corporate entities behind these tragic decisions and the people inside these companies. Get in touch with these companies, the head honcho's, let them know what Vulcan means to you - let them know their decision is wrong!

Anything else you can do? Well yes there is actually, you could buy a share in BAE / Rolls Royce. Owning just one share entitles you to attend their AGM and it entitles you to question the Board. YOU can hold them to account for this decision! Details / links below.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a tangible, living memorial to the brave fliers who participated in WWII, many of whom did not survive. The relatives, including great grand-children can watch Spitfires & the Lancaster bomber aloft knowing they are watching a tribute to and paying tribute to their brave relations.

Very many brave men & women put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe at the height of the Cold War, they started a day of their duty not knowing if it would be their last, indeed many were lost when these planes came down to earth with a bump.

These Cold War fliers, as much as the WWII fliers, deserve a tangible living memorial - XH558The Spirit of Great Britain is / was that Memorial. Their great-grandchilden deserve to witness this tribute in flight.

Refusing to help maintain this memorial, or standing in the way of those who would, is unpatriotic and the grossest insult to the memory & sacrifice of the legion of brave servicemen & women who served in or around VULCAN.

With this final bittersweet procession over lands it was conceived to defend; magnificent, unsurpassable VULCAN fades back into legend.

CMW - Oct 2015

My Salute to the last airworthy Avro Vulcan nuclear bomber XH558, as well as some of the figures who have played key roles in its history. This meticulously restored aircraft is immensely popular but has been forced into early retirement from flight by several essential Technical Authority companies withdrawing their support.

This is first, and probably my only ever, attempt at prose as it's a topic that is very close to my heart.